How to Build the Easiest Dining Room Chair Ever

This is a step by step “how to” on a super easy chair build. It doesn’t take expensive tools, and many of the cuts are the same so you can build a lot of them very quickly. If you have issues during the build, be sure to check out my video below to help you throughout the build!

Supplies

Materials:
1x2” 8ft. 2 pcs
2x2” 8ft. 2 pcs
2x4” 8ft 1 pc
1x10” 36in. 1 pc
3/8” dowel rod 1 pcs
2” pocket screws 16 pcs
1 1/4” pocket screws 3 pcs
2 1/2” sheet rock screws 10 pcs

Cut Up Your 2x4 Into 3 Pieces

Cut 2 at 35.75”
Cut 1 at 17”

Then:
Use a table saw to cut the 17” board in half (lengthways)
(These will be your front two legs)

Draw the Rear Chair Leg Design Onto the Two 35.75” 2x4s

Mark the middle (lengthways) of the 2x4 near the bottom, middle, and top.
Then make a line across the width of the board 17.75” up from the bottom.
Draw a line down the middle lengthways from the bottom up to that line.
Then from that middle 17.75” point make a line to the top right corner.
Then draw a line from the left side of the 17.75” mark to the top middle mark.

(The video makes this easier to see what is going on)

Cut Those Pieces Out With a Circular Saw

This middle section may be easier to cut out with a jigsaw.

Let’s Cut Some 1x2s and 2x2s.

We need:
8 1x2s at 14”
5 2x2s at 14”

Drill Pocket Holes in 4 of the 1x2s

We need 2 on each side and one in the center.

The center pocket holes will be used to attach the seat top later.

Sand All Your Pieces Down

The rear chair legs may require a little additional sanding

Mark the Chair Legs

Put a mark 3” up from the bottom on the front of the rear chair legs
Put another mark 17” up from the bottom on the front of the rear chair legs
Put a mark 3” up from the bottom on the back of the front chair legs

Attach the 1x2s to the Legs

Attach two of the 1x2s with pocket holes to the top of the 17” chair leg.
Then attach the other side of those 1x2s flush with the bottom of your 17” mark on the rear chair leg.
I use a 1/4” piece of plywood to offset these 1x2s 1/4” from the outside edge of the chair.

Attach One of the 2x2s

Attach one of the 2x2s flush with the top of the 3” marks between the front and rear chair legs.
To attach these, I use my “screw and dowel method”
1. Pre-drill 3/8” hole using a pocket hole drill bit (normal 3/8” bit will work)
2. Attach using 2 1/2” screws
3. Fill holes with 3/8” dowel rod and wood glue
(be sure to watch the video if you need help)

Put the Other Side Together

Make sure you build this side the opposite direction as the other side

Attach the Two Sides

Attach the 2 sides together using the last two 1x2s with the pocket holes.
These should be attached 17” up from the bottom of the chair legs, just like the other two.
I also offset the The front and back 1x2s 1/4” front the outside edges of the legs.

Attach a 2x2 Between the Two 2x2s on the Bottom

Center a 2x2 between the two side 2x2s and attach both sides using wood glue and my screw and dowel method.

1. Pre-drill 3/8” hole using a pocket hole drill bit (normal 3/8” bit will work)
2. Attach using 2 1/2” screws
3. Fill holes with 3/8” dowel rod and wood glue
(be sure to watch the video if you need help)

Cut Two 1x10s to 18”

ALSO: trim 1” off of ONE of the long edges on only ONE of these boards

Attach the Long Ends of These Two Boards

Use 3 pocket screws and wood glue to attach these two boards on the long edges to make the seat.

Cut Notches Out of the Seat Top

Set the seat top so it overhangs a 1/2” on each side.
Then make a rectangle on the back two corners that matches the chair back in width and length.
(Should be 2” wide x 1.75” deep)
Cut these 2 notches out

Attach the Seat Top With Wood Glue and 4 Pocket Screws From the Bottom

Assemble the Chair Back

Evenly space the last four 1x2s between the last two 2x2s and attach them with wood glue and finishing nails. The gaps should be somewhere around 1.75”.

Attach the Chair Back to the Chair

Attach the chair back to the sides of the chair using my screw and dowel method. The top of the chair back (2x2) should be about 1/2” from the top of the two sides

For the screw and dowel
1. Pre-drill 3/8” hole using a pocket hole drill bit (normal 3/8” bit will work)
2. Attach using 2 1/2” screws
3. Fill holes with 3/8” dowel rod and wood glue
(be sure to watch the video if you need help)

Fill All the 3/8” Holes With a 3/8” Dowel Rod and Trim Them Off

Also, fill all your nail holes with wood filler and sand it down.

Your Chair Is Ready to Be Finished the Way You Want It!

Be sure to check out the video if you have issues and follow me on YouTube for more great ideas!